Ishqiya

5.

It's funny how life has dramatically changed. Baba was improving, his condition was far better, Anirudh had consulted one of his friends who recommended us to a nice doctor and since then Baba has been doing fine. Maa had stopped doing odd jobs and rather started her own pickle and papad business, it was just a startup but still growing.

For me, I was still teaching dance while taking tuition classes alongside. Our financial condition was far better than it was in the past. We were finally happy as a family, maybe things were finally falling back into place.

But the whole credit goes to Anirudh. He has been the sole supporter and motivator of ours. If not for him we'd still be grieving. His startup ideas were selected by the investors and his happiness knew no bounds.

I remembered how happy he was a day back when he had signed the deal. We went on a date and spent the whole day together celebrating his first step to success.

But the biggest part was we hadn't told our parents about us till now. Which scared me. Their reaction and approval were still left.

Suddenly I was pulled by my elbow and pinned to the wall. My heart thumped with adrenaline rush and my chest heaved up and down.

I lifted my lashes only to get lost in the pools of honey. He had caged me between him and the wall, towering over me.

Anirudh dressed in a white kurta with the first two buttons undone, messy hair and a little stubble, looking devilishly handsome. He stared at me with those lover's eyes making me shy and a blushing mess.

"Don't look at me with those eyes", I said and kept my palm on his chest as I could hear his heart beating

"What eyes?", he questioned back, his voice a mere whisper as he leaned forward

"Like I am the one whom you look for in the crowded room like it's me where your heart belongs ", I said, it was partially the truth.

Since our confession, he had left no stone unturned to make me feel special and loved. I always had second thoughts about love and relationships since my parents were always my first priority but he made sure to clear all my doubts. He didn't judge me for all my insecurities or overthinking but rather was calm around me making me understand each and everything. Making me fall deeply for him.

"Have I told you how beautiful you looked today?", he asked raising his perfectly sculptured eyebrow and gracing my cheek with his fingertips

"Uh-huh", I whispered and I closed my lashes as the proximity was affecting me.

He left my cheek making me force my lashes open. He removed a small packet from his kurta pocket.

"Don't worry it's gulaal", he answered understanding my doubts

"Asli sindoor ko abhi der hai per jald hi uski bhi Kami Puri kar dunga", he admitted his velvety voice a thick whisper making me gulp my suddenly dried throat

He opened the packet with his teeth and took some amount of gulaal into his palm, bringing it near my face.

He gently caressed my cheek smudging the gulaal. A throaty breath escaped my throat as I turned my head sideways, my eyes turning closed. His intense gaze left me whimpering under his hold and the tension thick between us.